Quote:
Debarring new drivers from motorways doesn't sound quite so useful - how can one get experience without experience?
I guess that would be the same way as you get experience on the roads - not BARRED, but accompanied by a more experienced driver.... but incredibly difficult to police - UNLESS they were displaying P plates.
In which case a police officer would think (I presume) when he sees a car on the M-Way:
1. P Plate = new driver.
2. Does he have a passenger? If yes, then...
3. Is he driving competantly? If yes, then...
Driver and mentor are doing just fine, no cause for concern.
If NO, then observe - he might just have been spooked by actually seeing a policeman.... and if driving is below par, then stop and offer advice/caution.
Quote:
The restrictions on passengers could have problematic consequences eg young parents with children!
Again, rather than restrict passenger numbers, the presence of P Plates would alert an observer that a driver WITH passengers is a novice driver, and observation would show whether he/she is displaying required level of competancy.
All of these measures would require more traffic police on the roads.
Quote:
There is little mention of what proportion of the young people causing the accidents were a) not licensed b) not insured c) off their heads d) using the vehicle during a crime/fleeing police car.
In Cumbria, the young driver stats are generated by youths who are under no pressure from the law, and in most cases driving legally in terms of licenses, insurance etc.
Sadly, they often have a car FULL, and in one instance were driving on an airfield while below legal age.
I feel CERTAIN that underestimating the effect of a full load on the handling of the car is a major contributing factor - especially in regard to steering, but also braking distances.
I tend to look at a bend as I approach it, and think "What is the safest line, and smoothest course?" i.e. line up for the next bend or road feature if I know the road.
Inexperience seems to lead some drivers to think "What is the fastest line through this bend?" and if they did it at 50 mph yesterday, they try 50 mph again, either without factoring in the weight of another 4 people, and drift over the line, or without being able to manouvre if somebody comes the other way with their wheels on the centre line, cutting the apex of the corner.